Chapter 113

"Tch. They actually sent a middleman to pick it up?" David asked into the house, and after receiving confirmation, he reached out his hand. "They're quite cautious."

"Here you go." He pulled the white-haired girl up and handed her the medical kit, saying, "Tell Maine that my mom and I were taken care of by him in the past. It's true. I remember the favor. In the future, if you need to buy medicine, just contact me directly. All discounts will remain the same. Oh, and tell him I'm David Martinez."

David pulled her up and shoved the medical kit into her arms, and only then did Lucy realize what was happening.

They weren't exposed. They weren't pursued.

It was David, Gloria's son.

It's the one who graduated from the Arasaka Academy.

"I will tell Maine." With her eyebrows relaxed slightly, Lucy turned and left without hesitation.

She didn't want to stay a moment longer.

The girl with the eyeshadow, side-parted bob, and stylish look walked away in a flash.

She looked frightened by him.

David didn't think much of it and said to Gloria, who was listening inside, "It's all done, Mom. Time for bed. We have to work overtime tomorrow."

"David, her name is Lucy," Gloria said, seemingly having ended her call with Maine.

"Lucy? Kawaii's name," David said, closing the door.

Just then, a video call came in.

It's Kawakami Xiao Fu.

"Suneo, why aren't you asleep so late?" David asked, his expression puzzled. "I don't have your energy to go to Twist Street right now..."

"Pah! Do you think I'm that kind of person?! I have good news, do you want to hear it?"

"What?"

"New equipment has been issued. As outstanding graduates of this year, we have also been allocated positions!"

"What is it?" David was instantly wide awake.

"I don't know. It's said to be a collection of Bio-Components or biological weapons called Quinque."

Chapter 115 is all about making progress (5.5K)

Choosing to escape, yet somehow one is drawn closer to the source of that escape.

"Huff... huff..."

A strange-smelling wind carried a drizzle that dripped onto Lucy's hood.

She kicked off her stained sneakers, stepped over the rusty threshold, and entered a dilapidated, abandoned Watson factory. The pale rainbow ends of her hair shimmered faintly in the dim space.

"Oh, Lucy, you're back. Uh... what's this?"

Rebecca, on night watch, carrying the brightly painted 'Kill' shotgun that was extremely disproportionate to her petite frame, jumped off the ammunition box that served as a cushion. As soon as she opened her mouth, contrary to her outwardly carefree demeanor, she was actually quite sensitive and keenly noticed Lucy's pale and still-shaken face under the hood.

Rebecca couldn't help but look puzzled.

What's wrong with me grabbing something?

Where is Maine?

Lucy didn't answer, but took off her hood and asked.

"It's inside." Rebecca took out a bottle of Lucy's favorite chilled beer from the mini-fridge next to her and handed it to her, pointing inside the factory.

"Um."

Lucy took the beer, gave a nod, and hurried inside.

"Whoosh... hiss..."

Beside a metal folding table piled with ammunition boxes, weapon boxes, and discarded cans, fast food, and beer bottles, Pilar, wearing the Braindance Headband, lay on a sleeping mat, while Maine and Dorio squeezed together on an old sofa, cuddling and kissing each other while injecting themselves with pneumatic syringes.

It has the Arasaka Clover logo.

Tick-tock.

Maine immediately looked up.

Lucy walked over, took the Arasaka Genuine Tactical Medical Kit from the back of her sports jacket, placed it on the table, and said to him, "Your medicine."

Thanks.

Stopping whining, Maine grabbed his medical kit and rummaged around inside for a while, pulling out a well-packaged box of syringes and a nebulizer. "Immunosuppressants, Flex Stimulant —top-tier stuff... Gloria's son's really something. Add to what Jackie ordered, that's enough..."

As he spoke, he looked at Lucy, "I told you it was safe. This time it was quick, even earlier than when you usually go for a night run... Hey? Lucy, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just ran into Gloria's son, the one you mentioned. He almost killed me."

Lucy took off her sports jacket, revealing the black mesh bodysuit she was wearing underneath. She walked around to the center of the hall, plopped down next to Kiwi, who was watching the news, unscrewed the bottle cap, and took a big gulp. She was in a daze, her expression somewhat complicated.

"Ah?"

Upon hearing this, not only Maine but also Kiwi became interested.

"He said his name is David Martinez, and he asked me to tell you that he remembers your kindness and care for his mother. The discounts will remain the same, and the money will be reimbursed. In the future, if you need to buy medicine or have any other needs that do not involve Arasaka Corporation's principles, you can contact him directly." Rubbing her temples, Lucy managed to concentrate a bit more as she spoke to Maine.

"Wow."

Maine crossed his arms.

"That kid graduated less than two months ago. A weakling who barely finished his studies and has no foundation in cybernetic modifications, and he's talking so big?"

Lucy pointed to Maine's two thick prosthetic arms.

"Maine, his prosthetic body seems to be the same type as yours, the [Projectile Launch System], but his model is more advanced than yours."

"Damn. This company is fucking rich..."

Whether it was mockery or a sigh, Maine simply laughed heartily.

Envy is inevitable. To say it's completely absent would be self-deception. But he didn't delve into this issue.

He had served in the NUSA and had the opportunity to come into contact with those new Combat Cybernetics, but he chose to retire for no other reason than that his conscience wouldn't allow it.

The New America has done too many unethical things.

Perhaps Arasaka is equally unethical.

But compared to his personal experience in the NUSA army... it just goes to show that distance makes the heart grow fonder, and that the worst things are even worse. Now, for the sake of money and survival, and for the sake of the team, and because of the Jackie brothers' guarantee and introduction, he finally decided to work for Arasaka.

"However, the situation is becoming increasingly turbulent. With Vera Adelheid, that Hawks high-ranking official, Arasaka's future actions will definitely not be small. I reckon Second Metal War is inevitable." Maine looked at Dorio and said sincerely, "After we pull off this heist and make a fortune, I'm going to... pfft!"

Before he could finish speaking, the Muscular Woman Dorio elbowed him back onto the sofa.

"Maine, can you stop spouting nonsense and start thinking about how to deal with Faraday, steal the stuff, and report back to Mr. Jackie Mr. Wells..."

It's started again... Such a good relationship.

Shaking her head, Lucy looked away, lost in thought.

I lay my eyes flat, just staring blankly at the cheap projector TV showing a not-so-clear news feed, my mind blank and not knowing what I was thinking.

"If you want to settle down on the moon instead of just having a tourist experience, Lucy, you'll have to take on more corporate jobs. Only corporate jobs pay well. Phew... Soon, the chances of making money safely will be fewer and fewer..." Kiwi said suddenly, tilting her head back and exhaling smoke.

Do you mean war?

Kiwi did not answer.

Lucy followed Kiwi's gaze.

News.

It's not from Night City, but from the US-Mexico border.

In front of the shaky live-action camera, dozens of Barghest mercenaries, dressed in imposing Militech lightweight exoskeletons but with yellow-green paint, stood back to armored vehicles and bipedal mechs in front of a half-collapsed and burning building.

Confronting them were the NUSA Military, or rather, the mercenaries of the Lazarus Mercenary Group, whose combat uniforms, tactical maneuvers, and behavior were highly similar to their Soviet-style equipment.

While Arasaka remained inactive, the Militech refrained from deploying its directly subordinate armed forces.

Both sides are now putting all their efforts into using their media outlets to smear each other.

"East-West Standoff, the Barghest Mercenary Group versus the Lazarus Mercenary Group, the Western Free State versus Washington, Arasaka versus Militech..."

Kiwi said expressionlessly, "Along the US-Mexico border, from New Mexico to Arizona, riots have broken out everywhere, with people vandalizing federal agencies and attacking federal law enforcement officers. The stance of the Free State of Texas is very ambiguous... It's quite a show."

At this moment, the news footage shifted, and the media projected a half-body image of the person involved in the attack on the US-Mexico border.

One photo shows a company executive who is upright, dignified, and strikingly beautiful.

One image depicts a blood-stained thorn rose blooming amidst the carnage of an attack, a woman with a crazed expression, fighting fiercely and bloodily.

After just one glance, Lucy was unable to look away.

"A pack of cruel beasts, driven by even more cruel beasts, slaughter each other."

Her eyes seemed to grow even dimmer as she spoke in a sorrowful tone.

Remembrance that had been buried, avoided, and unwilling to be recalled suddenly became vivid again, bringing with them a stinging and burning sensation. Lucy thought of the place she should call home, her family of origin, her parents...

Cruel beasts driven by fate.

When we analyze the root cause, we can strip away the glamorous exterior.

All she saw was that these people, including Vera Adelheid, the gem praised by the Arasaka Emperor Saburo Arasaka, and the Dawn Rose adored by countless Corporate Dog, were dripping with blood and filth from head to toe, from every pore.

Kiwi glanced at Lucy, who looked distressed for some reason.

The little girl she picked up, who's a penny-pincher, has quite a few secrets...

A muffled thud.

The playful fighting stopped abruptly.

"Hello, this is Maine."

Maine stopped his playful banter with Dorio, leaned forward, spread his legs, and sat down with a serious expression, his eyes flashing orange-red.

"Faraday? They changed the Comms Chip again... Yes, yes, be cautious. You don't need to tell me... My hackers have detected traces of Arasaka's important personnel movements. Isn't that enough to show my stance? You're being cautious, not revealing any unnecessary information. Can't I be cautious too? This is damn much an attack on Arasaka! You can't be too careful... You don't need to urge me, I know what to do..."

The factory space has become quiet and deserted.

"Tch, it's Faraday." Maine looked up and glanced at his teammate. Pilar, with his long arms and arms, also took off the Braindance Headband. "Guys, the time to relax is always too short. Now, it's time to get down to business."

"Phew..." He took a deep breath, rubbed his hands together, and grinned smugly. "Stealing from Arasaka. Damn, being a double agent, pretending to steal from Arasaka, but actually plotting against Faraday and that four-eyed guy's Militech... Jackie's job is fucking thrilling..."

Seeing the team's eager expressions, Lucy knew it was time to get to work.

Working for Arasaka.

Just like the biological father she was running away from, she worked for Arasaka.

In the end, she still couldn't completely escape the future her father had arranged for her...

As Kiwi got up to change clothes and check their self-defense and hacking equipment, Lucy looked outside through the window next to the ventilation fan.

As night falls, the neon lights of the city skyline spread wildly like a shattered dream, turning the night sky into a colorful palette.

Just like the situation in Night City.

Like the Free State of North America, where undercurrents are swirling.

The next day.

Corporate Plaza.

Despite the rainy weather, the nighttime downpour did not dampen the citizens' enthusiasm for political discussion.

"Down with the tyranny of Washington! Independence belongs to the Free State!"